Written Answers Monday 8 November 2010

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is possible to require alcohol treatment as well as alcohol testing as part of the treatment under the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.

Kenny MacAskill: The Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 legislates for the new community payback order. The aim of the alcohol treatment requirement which can be imposed as part of the community payback order is to ensure that offenders address their alcohol dependency through treatment which is appropriate to their individual needs.

  A community payback order will specify that an offender must submit to treatment under the direction of a person with the necessary qualifications or experience, with a view to reducing or eliminating the offender's dependency on alcohol. The order may specify residential or non-residential treatment and treatment by or under the direction of a specified person, but will not otherwise specify the nature of the treatment.

Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set up a pilot alcohol treatment and testing order alongside the drug treatment and testing orders run by the criminal justice authorities.

Kenny MacAskill: We have no plans to pilot alcohol treatment and testing orders. Scottish courts are already able to impose a condition of alcohol treatment or education as part of a probation order where they consider it appropriate. 1,062 such conditions were imposed in 2008-09.

  With the introduction of the community payback order (CPO) in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, courts will be able to impose a CPO with an alcohol treatment requirement for offenders who are dependent on alcohol. For those who are not dependent, but for whom alcohol is nevertheless a factor in offending behaviour, a CPO can include alcohol counselling or education under either a supervision requirement or a programme requirement. The legislation for CPOs also contains provision for courts to carry out discretionary review hearings at any stage during the order. Evaluations of drug treatment and testing orders have found that reviews are one of the most successful features of that order.

Benefits

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Work and Pensions regarding the UK Government’s proposal of a £500-per-week cap on state benefits.

Alex Neil: The Minister for Schools and Skills, Councillor Harry McGuigan, representing COSLA, and I met with Chris Grayling MP, Minister for Employment in the UK Government on 28 October 2010. Discussion covered a range of welfare reform issues.

  Giventhe impact of the proposed benefit changes on Scottish people and devolved services at all levels it is crucial that the Scottish Government has a formal role in Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) policy formulation. We will therefore pursue our commitment to meet regularly on a tri-partite basis to make representations to the DWP to ensure that the needs of Scotland are fully considered including the proposed weekly benefits cap of £500 for an adult couple or lone parent household.

Benefits

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will have a role in administering the UK Government’s proposed cap of £500 per week on state benefits.

Alex Neil: It is not envisaged at present that the Scottish Government will have an immediate role in administering the UK Government’s proposed cap on state benefits, however responsibility for administering council tax benefit will transfer to the devolved administrations in 2013-14.

Benefits

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will have a role in administering the UK Government’s proposed cap of £500 per week on state benefits.

Alex Neil: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) anticipate that in the first instance the proposed cap is likely to be delivered by local authorities through housing benefit payments. In the longer term the cap will be administered as part of the new universal credit system.

  It is clear that the proposed changes in the welfare regime will place additional pressure on devolved services like health, housing and social care, many of which are delivered by local authorities and it is important that the Scottish Government and COSLA are involved in DWP policy development. To that end, we intend that these will be the subject of regular discussions with the DWP and COSLA and the administration of the benefits cap will be an important consideration.

Children and Young People

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have run away from (a) home and (b) residential care in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Adam Ingram: (a) This information is not held centrally.

  (b) This information is not held centrally. The Care Commission asks residential establishments through their annual return for the number of absconds during a 12 month period. The Scottish Government does not duplicate this work.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to discuss with the UK Government its proposals regarding the future of Citizens Advice.

Alex Neil: We are already engaged in discussions with the UK Government about its proposed changes to consumer protection functions, including those which impact on the future of Citizens Advice.

Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will commence section 17 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.

Kenny MacAskill: The Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 contains provisions for a new community sentence - the community payback order, and a presumption against short prison sentences. These provisions, along with two other related technical sections, will be commenced on 1 February 2011. The necessary orders will be laid before the Parliament in coming weeks.

Education Maintenance Allowances

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people qualified for an educational maintenance allowance in the academic year 2009-10 in (a) South Ayrshire and (b) East Ayrshire.

Keith Brown: Information on the number of students on the educational maintenance allowance scheme in the 2009-10 academic year will be published by the Scottish Government on 15 December 2010.

Environment

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tree preservation orders have been (a) enacted and (b) revoked in each local authority in each of the last 10 years.

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many trees subject to tree preservation orders have (a) been illegally felled or damaged, (b) had prosecutions for their illegal felling or damage brought to court and (c) been replaced with a new tree after being felled or lost due to damage in each local authority in each of the last 10 years.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.

Environment

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tree preservation orders have been revoked for the purpose of granting planning permission in each local authority in each of the last 10 years.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally. However it may be helpful to clarify that it is not necessary to revoke a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) for the purposes of granting full planning permission. Any work affecting protected trees that is necessary to implement a full planning permission does not require the consent of the planning authority under the TPO. The TPO is a material consideration in the consideration of the planning application.

Equality Strategy

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland regarding changes to the role of the organisation proposed by the UK Government.

Alex Neil: The future role and function of the Equality and Human Rights Commission is a reserved matter. Officials from the UK Government Equality Office have been in contact with Scottish Government officials and I am writing to Lynne Featherstone MP, Minister for Equalities, to emphasise the importance of consultation on any proposed changes.

  Scottish Government officials are in regular contact with the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland, and the announcement of changes to the future role and function of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland has been raised.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the safety of oxygen therapy in hospitals.

Shona Robison: Operational management guidance, safety action notices and hazard notices relating to the provision of oxygen therapy equipment in Scottish Hospitals is available from Health Facilities Scotland, a division of NHS National Services Scotland.

  Suppliers are required to provide appropriate hazard guidance regarding handling and storage of their products and are strictly monitored by the Health and Safety Executive under the relevant regulatory controls.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the timescale for the implementation of the UK Government’s proposed changes to housing benefit.

Alex Neil: The first tranche of housing benefit changes is due to be introduced in April 2011, with the second tranche due in April 2013.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of an appeal process being established in relation to the UK Government’s proposed changes to housing benefit.

Alex Neil: There is currently an appeals procedure in place for individuals who are unhappy with the level of housing benefit they have been awarded. The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that there are no plans to change the current procedure of the appeal process.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of what the average difference in benefit will be for housing benefit applicants who are single and under 35 if they are paid benefit at a shared-room rate rather than under the current arrangement.

Alex Neil: Further information is required from the Department of Work and Pensions to calculate the average difference in benefit. The Scottish Government is currently awaiting this further data and will make the information available in due course.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenants it expects will be affected by the proposed cap on housing benefit levels, broken down by local authority.

Alex Neil: Information on the impact of the benefit changes is available on the Department for Work and Pensions website at:

  http://www.dwp.gov.uk/local-authority-staff/housing-benefit/claims-processing/local-housing-allowance/impact-of-changes.shtml.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many tenants in the social rented housing sector are in receipt of housing benefit in each local authority area.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the average level of housing benefit in the social rented housing sector in each local authority area.

Alex Neil: The following information has been provided by the Department of Work and Pensions.

  Number of Housing Benefit Recipients and Average Weekly Award, by Tenure and Local Authority - July 2010

  

Local Authority
Social Rented Sector


 
Recipients
Average Award


Aberdeen City
14,000
57.69


Aberdeenshire
8,850
56.36


Angus
6,650
49.62


Argyll and Bute
4,770
57.18


Clackmannanshire
4,430
60.40


Dumfries and Galloway
9,000
57.51


Dundee City
14,700
63.64


East Ayrshire
10,480
52.32


East Dunbartonshire
3,330
62.98


East Lothian
5,500
51.30


East Renfrewshire
2,920
61.15


Edinburgh, City of
27,510
81.58


Eilean Siar
1,230
57.77


Falkirk
11,420
53.98


Fife
24,690
60.51


Glasgow City
77,060
65.07


Highland
12,950
60.03


Inverclyde
7,380
63.15


Midlothian
4,950
54.69


Moray
4,120
45.45


North Ayrshire
12,420
56.89


North Lanarkshire
29,030
51.34


Orkney Islands
710
54.23


Perth and Kinross
6,260
59.53


Renfrewshire
14,130
61.58


Scottish Borders
6,490
56.18


Shetland Islands
940
52.73


South Ayrshire
7,300
56.88


South Lanarkshire
22,190
56.77


Stirling
4,780
62.10


West Dunbartonshire
10,850
59.49


West Lothian
12,150
57.36


Scotland
383,160
60.54



  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  2. Average awards are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny.

  3. Breakdown by tenure does not include recipients with unknown tenure type.

  Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract 100% individual level data (SHBE).

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many tenants in the private rented housing sector are in receipt of housing benefit in each local authority area.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the average level of housing benefit in the private rented housing sector in each local authority area.

Alex Neil: The information below has been provided by the Department for Work and Pensions:

  

Authority
Private Rented Sector


 
Recipients
Average Award


Aberdeen City
1,390
101.20


Aberdeenshire
1,830
98.32


Angus
1,840
83.77


Argyll and Bute
1,670
84.47


Clackmannanshire
690
89.14


Dumfries and Galloway
2,720
74.85


Dundee City
4,180
87.90


East Ayrshire
2,220
91.79


East Dunbartonshire
1,000
105.34


East Lothian
1,220
107.01


East Renfrewshire
800
99.61


Edinburgh, City of
10,900
112.18


Eilean Siar
190
77.84


Falkirk
1,410
90.20


Fife
5,850
82.64


Glasgow City
13,710
100.51


Highland
2,520
84.41


Inverclyde
1,950
88.27


Midlothian
1,240
120.37


Moray
1,120
85.00


North Ayrshire
3,190
87.72


North Lanarkshire
4,620
91.53


Orkney Islands
250
78.18


Perth and Kinross
2,160
87.01


Renfrewshire
3,050
86.94


Scottish Borders
1,710
74.74


Shetland Islands
80
76.24


South Ayrshire
2,590
84.21


South Lanarkshire
4,770
90.56


Stirling
870
87.77


West Dunbartonshire
1,100
98.08


West Lothian
2,760
102.11


Scotland
85,600
94.03



  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  2. Average awards are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny.

  3. Breakdown by tenure does not include recipients with unknown tenure type.

  Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract 100% individual level data (SHBE).

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many tenants in receipt of housing benefit are in employment.

Alex Neil: Information on the employment status of housing benefit recipients is available from the Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). From an analysis of this source provided to us by DWP, of 468,960 housing benefit recipients in Scotland in July 2010, there were 42,220 (9% of all housing benefit recipients) whose benefit was not passported and for whom the local authority recorded employment income from either the main claimant or partner in calculating the housing benefit award.

  Another potential source of information on the characteristics of people on housing benefits is the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The FRS provides information, among other things, on the characteristics and circumstances of households which identify themselves in the survey as receiving housing benefit. In the 2008-09 survey 8% of housing benefit recipients in the survey in Scotland were recorded as having either the main applicant, spouse or both in employment. It should be noted that this is a sample survey and that there will be related levels of uncertainty around these estimates. There is also evidence of under reporting of benefit receipt in the survey.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many tenants in receipt of housing benefit are unemployed.

Alex Neil: The best source of information on housing benefit claimants is the Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) collected by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However information from this source does not separately identify housing benefit recipients who are unemployed. It should be noted that the definition of those who are unemployed is people who are out of work and actively seeking work. The information available to us from this source is given in the following table. This distinguishes those who receive housing benefit which has been passported because they receive other benefits (including sickness and disability benefits as well as unemployment benefits) and, for those whose housing benefit has not been passported, whether or not they are employed. The footnotes to the table explain the basis of the analysis.

  Of the non passported claimants who are not in employment the SHBE does not separately distinguish those who are unemployed and for those who are otherwise out of work (known as the economically inactive). It is therefore not possible to give an estimate from this source of the number who is unemployed.

  Another potential source of information on the characteristics of people on housing benefits is the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The FRS provides information, among other things, on the characteristics and circumstances of households which identify themselves in the survey as receiving housing benefit. In the 2008-09 survey 11% of housing benefit recipients in the survey in Scotland were recorded as unemployed. A further 40% of housing benefit recipients were recorded as being economically inactive and of working age. It should be noted that this is a sample survey and that there will be related levels of uncertainty around these estimates. Also there is evidence of under reporting of benefit receipt in the survey.

  All Housing Benefit Recipients by Passported Status and Employment Status: Scotland July 2010

  

Number of Housing Benefit Recipients
 468,960


All Passported4
 337,280


Non-Passported in Employment
 42,220


Non-Passported not in Employment
 89,180



  Notes:

  1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

  2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

  3. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and July 2010 is the latest month for which data is available.

  4. People receiving housing benefit which has been passported are receiving Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, or Pension Credit (guaranteed credit).

  5. People claiming Housing Benefit not in receipt of a passported benefit are recorded as being in employment if their local authority has recorded employment income from either the main claimant, or partner of claimant (if applicable), in calculating the housing benefit award.

  6. The analysis covers all housing benefit recipients in social housing and private rented accommodation.

  7. Passported Status does not include recipients with unknown passported status.

  Source Department for Work and Pensions Single Housing Benefit Extract.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36991 by Alex Neil on 27 October 2010, whether it plans to collect information centrally on how many homes have residual current devices and what the reason is for its position on this matter.

Alex Neil: The content of the Scottish House Condition Survey, which would be the most appropriate source for collecting information on residual current devices, is regularly reviewed. The next scheduled review of data collected by the Scottish House Condition Survey will be in 2011 for introduction in 2012. The inclusion of questions on residual current devices will be considered as part of this review.

  The need for questions on residual current devices will have to be balanced against the cost of collecting more data or by the loss of other questions.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36709 by Alex Neil on 25 October 2010, how much funding has been distributed to each of the five local authority hubs under the Housing Options programme.

Alex Neil: To date, we are in receipt of four of the five hub action plans, and currently await the submission of the fifth and final action plan. This has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances within one of the lead authorities. We have requested submission of this action plan by no later than 11 November 2010.

  Once in receipt of all five action plans, a decision will be made in terms of distribution of the funding.

Justice

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the criminal justice budget has been spent on (a) victims and (b) witnesses in each of the last three years.

Kenny MacAskill: Expenditure on victims and witnesses is incurred across a range of criminal justice agencies. For example, engagement with victims and witnesses is a core part of the functions of the police, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Scottish Court Service. However, spending on such work is not separately identified within their budgets, and it is therefore not possible to disaggregate total expenditure on victims and witnesses within the Scottish justice budget. In addition, a number of services are delivered to both victims and witnesses as there is an overlap between the two categories.

  Support and services for victims and witnesses are also provided by agencies funded by other parts of the Scottish Government, and include over £44 million over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 to combat violence against women including funding for Rape Crisis Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid, and the Rape Crisis Helpline.

  Expenditure that is specifically earmarked solely for victims and witnesses within the Scottish justice budget is listed in the following table:-

  

 
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11


 
£000
£000
£000


Scottish Justice Budget
1,714,100
1,772,200
1,897,100


Victims and Witnesses
5,600
4,800
5,600


Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
28,500
28,500
28,100

Legal Aid

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much legal aid was paid to lawyers to represent asylum seekers in each of the last 10 years.

Kenny MacAskill: We can only give specific figures for asylum, to any degree of accuracy, after April 2008.

  The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) has responsibility for administering the legal aid scheme. It has recorded payment figures in the immigration and asylum category going back to 2001. However, a specific category within the advice and assistance scheme to separately identify cases of asylum seekers was only introduced just over two years ago, in April 2008.

  In the separate scheme for civil legal aid, which pays for representation in relation to judicial hearings, the most specific subject matter SLAB has is to identify judicial or statutory reviews relating to immigration or asylum proceedings. There is no further breakdown and therefore we need to estimate specific asylum costs. The figures shown on the following table use these estimates as described and have combined the costs of advice and assistance and civil legal aid. The breakdown of the total paid is shown in terms of solicitor’s fees, counsel’s fees and outlays to cover expenses and items such as expert witness reports. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.

  There is some income received to cover costs in asylum and immigration. In 2009-10, 4% of the gross costs in this area were recovered.

  

Expenditure Item (£000)
2008-09
2009/10
2010-11 (Part Year)


All Immigration and Asylum Costs Including VAT
3,793
4,403
2,544


Asylum Total Paid Including VAT
1,214
1,251
913


Solicitor Asylum Fees Including VAT
895
893
677


Counsel Asylum Fees Including VAT
70
96
37


Outlay Asylum Costs Including VAT
249
263
200

Legal Aid

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much legal aid was paid to lawyers to represent clients suing the NHS for negligence in each of the last 10 years.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) has responsibility for administering the legal aid scheme.

  SLAB has reparation cases coded on its systems going back to 2001. In 2005, it introduced a category code to identify cases of reparation with a specific medical negligence component. However, it does not categorise the type of opponent.

  Medical negligence cases take between one and two years on average to result in an account being submitted. As can be seen in the following table the first two years after the introduction of the new system saw a build up in the level of identified expenditure, and will not be an accurate representation of the amount of legally aided work related to medical negligence in any particular year.

  The figures quoted are for all opponents that appear to be a part of the wider National Health Service, i.e. they include health boards, health trusts, individual doctors, dentists etc as well as the Scottish Ambulance Service, the Blood Transfusion Service and NHS 24.

  Exclusions have been made for cases against obvious private companies and non-medical bodies, for example the Scottish Prison Service.

  The figures shown in the table have combined the costs of advice and assistance and full legal aid.

  The breakdown of the total paid is shown in terms of solicitor’s fees, counsel’s fees and outlays to cover expenses and items such as expert witness reports. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.

  SLAB recovers a considerable part of the costs of medical negligence cases. In 2009-10 it recovered 30% of the total gross cost of these cases through expenses being awarded against opponents and through contributions from assisted persons. These gross figures therefore do not represent the net cost on the legal aid fund.

  

Gross Expenditure (£000)
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11(Part Year)


Total Paid Including VAT
12
91
416
781
1,082
1,271


Solicitor Fees Including VAT
3
3
124
279
342
488


Counsel Fees Including VAT
0
0
50
91
101
317


Total Outlays Including VAT
9
88
242
411
640
466

National Health Service

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the impact on rural and remote GP practices of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s recent consultation Review of the Control of Entry Arrangements considered a wide range of issues, including those related to dispensing GP practices. The Summary Report was published on 20 October 2010, and can be found on the Scottish Government’s website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/10/20143448/0 .

  The Summary Report sets out our intentions to amend the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 in a number of areas, and will ensure, for instance, that dispensing GP practices are informed directly when applications are made to open a community pharmacy in the relevant neighbourhood. We intend to lay amendment Regulations before the Scottish Parliament for its consideration prior to the end of the year.

  The Scottish Government is also in negotiations with the British Medical Association Scottish General Practitioners’ Committee (SGPC) with a view to establishing future funding arrangements for dispensing practices. The impact of dispensing income on practices in remote and rural areas is being considered as part of this.

Ophthalmic Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts exist in each NHS board with community-based optometrists to provide services over and above general ophthalmic services and what services are being developed.

Shona Robison: The information requested is presented in the following table . 

  NHS boards can provide more detailed information on these arrangements if required.

  

NHS Board
What Contracts Exist in Each NHS Board with Community-Based Optometrists to Provide Services Over and Above General Ophthalmic Services
What Services are Being Developed


 Ayrshire and Arran
 Cataract Review - where patients who have had cataract surgery have their post operative review carried out by an accredited community optometrist.Diabetic Retinopathy Screening - where patients suffering from diabetes receive annual screening from an accredited optometrist.Bridge to Vision - a local service where RNIB project assessment workers work with community optometrists to provide eye care for adults with a learning disability.Low Vision Aids - a local service provided by fifteen accredited community optometry practices. 
 The board is currently exploring the possibility of the provision of a shared care glaucoma scheme.


Borders
NHS Borders currently contracts with three optometrists to provide diabetic screening. This is a pilot scheme and no decision has been made as to whether to retain or expand the scheme. 
There are no other schemes in development.


Dumfries & Galloway
None
 


Fife
Low Visual Aid scheme jointly with Fife Society for the Blind. 
 


Forth Valley
None
No plans to develop these types of services.


Grampian
NHS Grampian has a Local Enhanced Services Contract (LESc) to enhance the level of optometry care in Grampian in terms of quality, delivery and outcomes.The LESc involves an agreement of a Clinical Accord between Community Optometry practices and NHSG which enables Optometrists to accept patients via the Grampian Eye Health Network (EHN) and treat certain conditions.
In NHS Grampian over the past 18 months, the urgent eye referrals have been directly referred electronically from community Optometrists to the tertiary Hospital eye department. NHS Grampian has been developing electronic eye referral for routine patients as well as urgent referrals and is just completing a small six month pilot.


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Glasgow Integrated Eye care Service (GIES) was initiated to tackle lengthy waiting times for ophthalmology in the south of the city and to provide care closer to home for patients.
The scheme continues to function well but has been partly superseded by the advent of the new GOS regulations which enable all optometrists to carry out comprehensive needs driven assessment of their patients.


Highland
NHS Highland has a contract in place with community optometrists across Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership to obtain digital fundus photographs as part of the diabetic retinopathy screening service.
At present there are no additional services being developed within NHS Highland.


Lanarkshire
Low Vision Project is a community based service whereby patients are assessed for, and provided with, low vision aids by community optometrists. 
NHS Lanarkshire expect to launch the Lanarkshire Eye Health Network (LEHN), which is a Community based eye casualty service.


Lothian
Lothian Orthoptic / Optometry Partnership (LOOP) is a joint primary and secondary care service.The Contact Lens Optometry Partnership (CLOP) is a community based medical contact lens service.The Lothian Optometry Service to special schools is a small, specialised scheme.
NHS Lothian have had some initial dialogue with the General Practitioners Sub-Committee of the Area Medical Committee to explore ways that GPs and optometrists might work more collaboratively to allow patients to be seen more appropriately by the right professional in the community.


Orkney
None
 


Tayside
None
 


Western Isles
NHS Western Isles contracts for two services with a local community-based optometrist:Post cataract surgery review; and Diabetes Diabetes Retinal Screening.
A contract is in place with a local optometrist for the image capture element of the local DRS programme. 


Shetland
Eye Care Network which supports a range of tier one pathways
None

Poverty

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-36671 and S3W-33785 by Alex Neil on 25 October and 1 June 2010 respectively, when it will announce how it will commit the remainder of its Achieving our Potential budget in 2010-11.

Alex Neil: Decisions on committing the remainder of the Achieving our Potential budget are yet to be taken.

Prison Service

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35643 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 August 2010, whether Peter Tobin will be considered for early release on licence on compassionate grounds if he is diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35643 on 23 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Prison Service

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the capacity is of HMP (a) Dumfries and (b) Kilmarnock and what the average daily prison population is in each in the current year and has been in each year since 2006-07.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following tables provide a breakdown of each prison’s design capacity and average daily population for each complete financial year from 2006-07 and for the period 1 April to 28 October 2010:

  HMP Dumfries

  

Year
Design Capacity
Average Daily Population


2006-07
179
200


2007-08
179
202


2008-09
179
205


2009-10
179
192


1 April to 28 October 2010
179
198



  HMP Kilmarnock

  

Year
Minimum Contracted Capacity
Additional Spaces Purchased
Average Daily Population


2006-07
500
96
599


2007-08
500
144
641


2008-09
500
144
636


2009-10
500
48
549


1 April to 28 October 2010
500
48
547

Prison Service

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what work the Scottish Futures Trust has done to deliver investment in the Scottish Prison Service.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  While the Scottish Futures Trust has been briefed on the Scottish Prison Service investment plans, it has not to date been involved in the delivery of any capital investment in the Scottish Prison Service. The current prison modernisation programme is being taken forward using traditional capital funding.

Prison Service

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to use not-for-profit trusts to deliver investment in the Scottish Prison Service.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The prison modernisation programme is currently being taken forward using traditional capital funding. The potential to use not-for-profit trusts to deliver investment in the Scottish Prison Service is kept under review.

Procurement

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions it used the accelerated public procurement procedure under the EU procurement directive in 2009 and has used it in 2010.

John Swinney: The use of accelerated restricted procedures allows public bodies to reduce the overall time allowed for bidders to respond to contract notices and tender documents. Any decision to reduce the timescales for a tendering exercise has to recognise the value and complexity of the individual contract and whether the reduction in the timescale might have an adverse impact on the ability of companies to respond. Given the large size of contracts typically awarded by the Scottish Government, it has not been deemed appropriate to reduce the time of the tendering procedure and the accelerated procedure has not been used in 2009 or to date in 2010. Information from the Public Contracts Scotland portal shows that, across the wider Scottish public sector, accelerated procedures have been applied in 49 awards of contract in 2009 and 27 awards so far in 2010.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce community energy plans to allow local communities to identify their own local renewable energy needs.

Jim Mather: Through a concerted drive to maximise community benefits from renewables and increase local ownership of energy, we already help communities to identify their own local renewable energy needs, and to realise their ambitions.

  Our Climate Challenge Fund is about helping communities identify how much they can reduce their own carbon footprint, including identifying local renewable energy needs. It has funded 203 projects which include energy efficiency or renewables options in communities.

  We have provided some £13.5 million over the last two years to fund our Community and Renewable Energy scheme which provides grants and free bespoke independent advice for communities to take forward their own energy projects. 600 projects are set to benefit by March 2011.

  We are currently considering future funding options for community renewables, including the scope for a loan fund to de-risk the pre-planning costs of local renewable energy projects.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that there is renewable energy capability in each public building.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan raises awareness that there are opportunities for the public sector to lead by example in sourcing renewable energy systems, where appropriate.

  We have recently introduced new building regulations to deliver a 30 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from new buildings and in many cases, compliance will involve use of renewable technologies.

  We have provided some £13.5 million over the last two years to fund our Community and Renewable Energy scheme which provides free and independent advice as well as grants. Community based not-for-profit organisations, including local authorities and other public bodies, are eligible.

  With Scottish Government funding, the Carbon Trust provides energy efficiency and emissions saving support to the public sector in Scotland. This includes advice on the installation of renewables technologies, where appropriate. In addition, the Central Energy Efficiency Fund continues to provides interest-free loans for local authorities, NHS boards and Scottish Water to invest in energy saving and renewables measures.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to promote the instalment and use of renewable energy generation in every school.

Jim Mather: The joint Scottish Government and COSLA school estate strategy, Building Better Schools: Investing in Scotland’s Future, commits national and local government to ensuring that schools should be ‘greener’, more sustainable and environmentally efficient.

  The schools renewables development officers, who are funded by the Scottish Government, have helped local authorities secure funding from grant schemes such as the extended Low Carbon Buildings programme and our Community and Renewable Energy scheme.

  We have recently introduced new building regulations to deliver a 30 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions from new buildings and in many cases, compliance will involve use of renewable technologies.

  With Scottish Government funding, the Carbon Trust provides energy efficiency and emissions saving support to the public sector in Scotland. This includes advice on the installation of renewables technologies, where appropriate. In addition, the Central Energy Efficiency Fund continues to provides interest-free loans for local authorities to invest in energy saving and renewables measures.